My priestly life is always strengthened and nourished by a living faith.  I like to call faith living, not dead.   It grows strong daily.   In my priestly life, I have encountered doubts, confusion, frustration, and difficulties.  It is faith, which is living, that has moved me forward.  It is absolutely the gift of God.  When I encounter waves and storms in my life, I receive courage and strength from God.  Faith is always growing in me.  Paul's letter to the Hebrews reminds us: "Faith is the guarantee of the blessing that we hope for, a proof of the existence of the realities that at present remains unseen."
In spite of aimlessness, contradiction, and skepticism that have surrounded me, my faith has helped me to cling to what I believe -- that God exists!  He loves me passionately.  He sent His own beloved Son for me who forgives my sins and offenses.  When my heart is steadfast in this faith, my faith will be alive.  My faith is not based on cold, clinical facts; rather it is child-like.  I believe in a Father who will never mislead me. 
My first appointment was a remote countryside parish in the northern part of India. It was a Santal tribal parish.  They spoke Santali.   Fr. Bonifus Bonk, TOR, an American Franciscan priest from Pennsylvania, was a founding pastor.  This parish had a living faith community.  The parish was the center of every activity, and was the only place where the people could get any help. The parish community was committed to the spiritual, educational, and social uplifting of the people.
My life there was a great challenge. I did not know the language.  I had no proper living environment, no transportation, no electricity, no running water, no communication system.  I did not know the cultural background.  It was a total breakdown in my life.  I was in a disastrous situation.   I was born and brought up in a big city.  I had studied in big colleges and universities.   Yet the first appointment I received as a newly ordained priest was a shock for me.  I was asked to go and minister to people in the most undeveloped, uncivilized, uneducated community; in spite of this, it was a community with a living faith. There was a great force and tremendous spirit within me, which helped in my ministry with the people.   I had to face new challenges and hardship.  I believe faith kept me going.

I enjoyed my life and ministry. Imagine! I celebrated the Sunday Eucharist in Santali language (which was totally foreign to me) after the 4^th day of my arrival. I was like Peter and his companions after the Pentecost; he preached the word of God to them and everyone understood in their own language.  I preached and they understood.  Of course, I wrote the whole sermon in Hindi (another language) that was more familiar to me. I read everything to them, and I believe they understood everything. It is the same experience we have if you understand everything that I say.  It is a Pentecost experience.   
My first year of priestly life and ministry in that faith community opened my heart. I learned to love the people and commit my life to the people God had given to me. I am a man of faith; without it I am nothing. Without faith, I find no meaning in my life; I become cold, lazy, cynical, and crabby. The sacraments I celebrate would be empty if I had no faith in them. My preaching would be boring. Sometimes all of us are like Thomas Merton who found himself in such a moment of trial. He expressed his faith journey in the following words: "My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know where it will end.  Therefore, I trust you always, though I may seem to be lost in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone."

ADORERS ARE NEEDED for the following times:
u Monday, 2 - 3 PM
v Tuesday, 3 - 4 AM
w Friday, 1 - 2 PM

Please call Dorothy at (651) 636-1660 or Jerry at (651) 636-2054 to schedule a weekly hour of adoration.

GUEST SPEAKERS COMING:

1.) Fr. Michael Becker, pastor of St. Michael's parish, will speak at the 4:30 p.m. Mass on Saturday, August 6.

2.) Fr. James Livingston will speak at all the Masses on Sunday, August 7.

They will address the blessings that perpetual adoration brings to a parish and to people on a personal level.

3.) Year of the Eucharist celebration! To help us celebrate this year-long event,  Father Joseph Johnson, Assistant Chancellor of the Archdiocese, will celebrate a Mass at St. John's at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 18. He will speak about the Year of the Eucharist and how we can best spiritually profit from it. Father Joseph Johnson is a very popular speaker, and he has been a frequent guest on Relevant Radio, EWTN, and programs around the Archdiocese. Everyone is invited to attend. Mark your calendar now so you don't forget!